Home Features In the Parks Universal Studios Hollywood Construction From Above

Universal Studios Hollywood Construction From Above

January 2, 2015

Happy New Year’s from Universal Studios Hollywood! It is a truly exciting time at the park with multiple major projects underway. We are on the verge of one epic summer in 2015. Both the Fast and Furious Supercharged Studio Tour addition and the new Springfield area based on The Simpsons will be opening this summer. Then, as if that wasn’t enough, the following summer we will have the all new land, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. This is the biggest expansion period in the park’s long history and we are watching it play out. We have a special photo spread for you below, including aerial photos of Hogwarts construction!

The park is still celebrating Grinchmas through January 4th. So, if you haven’t gone out to see the Grinch and all the Who’s, you have until Sunday.

Inside the Universal Plaza we have the Mayor of Whoville ready to say hi to all that drop in for a bit of Who-liday cheer.

It must be noted that the make up on all of the Whovians is always remarkable as are the actors.

Something that we may not have noticed before, but they put these cute Santa hats on the Minions on the sign for Despicable Me.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Next up we share the progress at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Backstage we can see more prep work happening for bits of the façade for Hogwarts. You can see the peaks of the turrets here as well as castle walls.

Could something mysterious and secret be under the tarps here? Or is it just covering due to the recent wind and rains?

Looking towards the park we see the back portion of the gigantic show building for Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey.

From inside the park we see the view of Hogsmeade that will greet the guests when they first enter into the park.

Shrek 4D has reopened and brings with it our first up-close view of Hogsmeade.

The queue for Shrek 4D brings you quite close to the corners of the Wizarding World.

The queue for Shreck literally goes under the eaves of Hogsmeade.

Around the back side of Shrek you get a full view of what’s going on.

Shrek is an obvious expansion area for the Wizarding World.

Right now, it is relatively easy to simply glance over and see everything that is happening in Hogsmeade and Hogwarts. To the left we see the façade for Hogwarts

The exit for Shrek 4D comes out here and exits along the same route that guests use to come in.

From the front of Hogsmeade we can also see the entry gate and buildings beyond.

We circle around the back and see the Three Broomsticks restaurant.

Meanwhile, from inside the park we can also see the large show building for Forbidden Journey.

We can also see more inside the Wizarding World area.

Brent Young, President of theme park design company Super 78 Studios, recently took a helicopter ride above the construction site and was kind enough to share the pictures that he took. You can click on any of the pictures below to enlarge and get a better view.

This is an interesting shot which shows Springfield in the front and the Wizarding World beyond. Click image to enlarge. Click to enlarge. Click to enlarge. Click to enlarge. This is a view with CityWalk in the front and Wizarding World in the back center. Click to enlarge. Those boxy looking buildings just beyond the Simpson’s ride building in the front of this image is Springfield! It’s very close to the Wizarding World just beyond. Click to enlarge. Click to enlarge. Click to enlarge. Click to enlarge. Click to enlarge. Click to enlarge. Click to enlarge

There’s a massive amount of construction on the upper lot!

Stage 13

We move on to a glance at the area that was once the House of Horrors. The entire Stage 13 has been flattened and we will soon see shops and food locations popping up here.

Springfield

This summer, you will have your chance to dine on a Krusty Burger or sip a Flamin’ Moe as Springfield will be coming to life right here. What amounts to essentially a wonderful grouping of themed food locations, Springfield will give folks a chance to inhabit Moe’s Tavern, Kleutus’ Chicken Shack, the Krusty Burger, The Aztec Theater and more.

In the Distance we, of course, have The Simpsons Ride to anchor the area.

Construction walls funnel guests through the areas of the park that are under development. To the right, the Springfield façades, to the left, the Italian food location that will soon be themed to fit in with Springfield.

Speaking of the Italian eatery, it was recently reopened to help with guest demand. The kitchen is totally operable, it’s just a re-theme that will be coming. But for now, they are dishing it out.

Behind the fences we see the frame work for the new eatery going up.

Looking back at the center of the park we see that a new dining area has been set up to give folks a place to eat their pizza, pasta, and calzones.

Moving on, we see the nearly fully realized front of Moe’s Tavern.

Looking down at the whole area we get an idea for the scope of the land next to the entrance to The Simpsons Ride to the right.

While the Kwik-E-Mart is remaining nearly unchanged, there is a new addition around the other side that is awesome.

A close-up look at Kleutus’ Chicken Shack.

Fast and Furious Super Charged

From the Curious George parking structure we can see the large buildings for Fast and Furious Supercharged has been fully enclosed and geared up for a summer 2015 opening. This attraction will punctuate the end of the Studio Tour with a much-needed big final scene.

Parking Structure

Rounding things out we have a look at the monstrous parking structure that is under construction at the far end of City Walk.

to answer the question, yes, all of those trowel patterns are done by hand.

There you have it. A gigantic construction update from Universal Studios Hollywood. It would be a great idea to grab your annual pass to the park now as both Springfield and Fast and furious will be open within the next 5-6 months. You also have time for a little more Grinchmas if you get there this weekend. So, go see the Grinch, get a pass, everybody wins. HAPPY NEW YEAR! We will see you next time, In The Parks.